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MBA from USC boosts manager's career
When Aaron Bourke decided to study a Master of Business Administration at the University of the Sunshine Coast, his aim was to get ahead in his career.
“I’ve definitely achieved that,” said the 34-year-old former elite swimmer from North Rockhampton who notched up three promotions in his company in the four years of his part-time Business studies at USC.
Mr Bourke, who graduated with his MBA earlier this year, is Regional Manager of Flexihire, part of the BOC Group, based in Rockhampton.
“The MBA opened up a whole new set of tools for me to use at work,” he said.
“I’d previously used commonsense and what I’d learnt from other people but USC has given me a library of information and knowledge that I can refer to.
“I’ve used it numerous times in practice and right now I’m referring back to the organisational behaviour textbooks about defining corporate culture.”
Mr Bourke was living in Gladstone in 2007 when friends recommended the MBA at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
“I looked at the subjects and the flexibility and made the decision,” he said.
He attended some lectures and met academics face-to-face on campus at Sippy Downs then finished the bulk of the degree online.
“I combined working 50 to 60 hours a week with studying to 2am but you know if you put in the effort, you get the rewards,” he said. “It was well worth it.”
Mr Bourke became accustomed to hard work as a young swimmer, competing for Australia in the mid-1990s at the Commonwealth Games and winning gold in the freestyle relay at the World Championships.
His management experience in the aquatics industry contributed to his acceptance into USC’s postgraduate program.
– Julie Gatehouse